Recent content by Rank Stranger

Very interesting topic, and some very interesting replies. I share agreement with some, and have slight differences with others. There is one important point that, at the risk of digressing from the topic, I would like to make in brief. Science tells us a lot about the physical aspects of our...

God gives us a very clear answer to that age-old question. It is found in Ephesians 2:8-9, which reads 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Nuff said Rank Stranger

It is important to remember that God can do all things as long as they are within His purpose. He cannot do anything outside His purpose because that would compromise His perfect holyness. He can create evil within His purpose, to serve His purpose, but such creation does not in any way make...

After reading some of the replies on the topic of Adam and his free will, I just had to toss in some discussion on the much larger topic of God and His atributes. One of those atributes is His omnisence, His complete knowledge of absolutely everything that ever was, what is, and what will come...

Sabitarian, I will respond to your post even though it detracts from the subject of this thread. If you read scripture you will discover that God Promises several times that His followers will not be subjected to His wrath. Specifically, I refer to First Thessalonians 5:9, but you can also...

Life's Railway To Heaven, sung by Patsy Cline Rank Stranger

It seems many of you forget scripture when discussing this topic. The beast first appears in Rev. 13. But back in Rev. 6 we learn of a great earthquake and a meteor shower of immence proportions. And there are other major disasters such as wormwood occuring long before we reach Rev. 13. From...

There is a scriptural topic that puzzzles me. What is Christian fasting? What does the term mean? How is it done? When is an appropriate time or period to do it? All comments will be greatly appreciated. Rank Stranger

There was a disciple that Jesus loved -- John 13:23 It was not Peter -- John 13:24 Mary Magdalene went to the empty tomb, then ran to Peter and John, who also ran to the empty tomb. John refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. -- John 20:1-10 Rank Stranger

I'm not sure what bringing "balance" to the gospel actually means. How can we, as mortals, make the truth of God more palatable? We should instead emphasize the basics of Christianity -- Belief in Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, leading a humble life of repentence, loving God with all...

Very interesting reading. However, you have all apparently overlooked the obvious. First of all, satan could not have fallen prior to the Book of Job being written, mainly because once this evil angel had fallen he was forever banned from Heaven (God does not permit evil in his heavenly...

Goal? There is no goal to strive for here. I am certainly troubled by many "doctrines" held closely by true Christians that have no real basis in Scripture, just as I am troubled by many of us mortals underestimating the true powers and greatness of our God. It is simply unacceptable for many...

Whirlwind, everything you posted is non-biblical. The "first age"? Satan introduced to us in the Garden? He was already fallen at that time? And as for Revelation 12:9, since when does a "dragon" resemble a snake? I don't think so. More importantly, if I were to request a single biblical...

A comment in another thread got me to thinking. Just when did Satan fall from God's grace? Most people think it was before creation, during the creation week, or shortly after that week. But I would beg to differ that it could not have been in any of those periods. Here is my thoughts for...

The most basic question of this particular discussion is this. Did Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross completely satisfy God so that He would forgive all sins of all believers for all time? The answer according to God, Jesus and God's Word in Scripture is yes, that single sacrifice was...